GMAT resources and business school rankings

How to Choose a GMAT Tutor

Written by Virginia Li

An Internet search for “GMAT tutor” will give you thousands of candidates to sift through. The question remains, How do you find the tutor that’s right for you? Before committing to one tutor, you should request an interview and, if possible, a trial session.

Here are some questions you should ask any prospective tutor:

1) What are your qualifications?

At minimum, your GMAT tutor should have scored well on the GMAT, and be familiar with the current format of the exam. Better still, this tutor should have teaching experience, verified by recommendations from previous employers and happy students.

2) What are your teaching methods?

The greatest benefit in private GMAT tutoring is having someone who can cater to your learning style and particular needs. Ask your tutor how a typical tutoring session is formatted and how they have approached specific issues in the past (i.e. difficulty with pacing, hitting a dead end with the math score, etc).

3) What study materials do you use?

Tutors who are part of larger test prep companies may have full-length practice tests and additional study materials available for your use. Smaller GMAT tutoring businesses might offer a more personal approach. If you’re looking for more practice questions, this would be an essential question to ask.

4) How much do your sessions cost?

The cost of a private GMAT tutor can vary from $20 an hour to upwards of $100 an hour. Before interviewing candidates, have a good idea of how much you’re willing to spend on GMAT test preparation. And remember, the price of a tutor is not necessarily a reflection of quality.